The car exhaust system has a complex structure. It also has a special neutralizer that can quickly fail if fuel of insufficient quality is used. It is needed to clean exhaust gases from hazardous substances. Its operation is based on a chemical reaction: hazardous components take harmless forms and then come out.
If you notice signs of wear on the neutralizer, do not rush to throw it away. On the service https://autocatalystmarket.com/en/products/dodge you can sell your old converter and get money for it, which will help offset part of the costs of a new part.
Before you understand how this element of the system works, you need to understand its structure. The neutralizer consists of:
- A monolithic stainless steel body. It protects the internal device and can be in the form of an oval, ellipse, cylinder.
- A heat-resistant layer of insulating material. It is needed to maintain the required temperature.
- A cellular steel monolith or silicates. They increase the area of interaction between the catalytic layer and carbon dioxide.
- Active layer.
- Two pipes – for input and output. The neutralizer is attached to them.
First, emissions from the exhaust manifold enter the filter. They pass through a honeycomb filler, which converts nitrogen oxides into inert nitrogen, oxygen is released. After that, carbon monoxide is oxidized by precious metals, turning into carbon dioxide.
Where is it located in the car?
The neutralizer is located under the hood between the engine and the muffler. From below, the part is covered with a screen that absorbs heat and protects the part from mechanical damage.
In some car models, the device is closer to the exhaust system, in others, next to the exhaust manifold. The first models are more common. In order for the part to work correctly, it is installed in a place with the highest temperature. Near the muffler there are unburned gases, the emission temperature is maximum, and the neutralizer carries out cleaning.
What is the purpose?
The neutralizer makes the vehicle cleaner and more environmentally friendly. Without this part, the car will not meet environmental requirements. You can use the system without a filter by removing it. The car can be operated without a neutralizer. Among the advantages is efficiency, the engine will spin up faster, because the resistance on the exhaust is reduced. But a car without a neutralizer will pollute the environment more.
Main breakdowns
Filters have a guaranteed service life of 100-150 thousand km, but in practice you can encounter problems much earlier, especially in large cities, where standing in traffic jams is a common problem. Depending on the approach to operation, the element may need to be replaced every 3-7 years.
The main reason for the breakdown is the burnout of the layer of the necessary substance on the honeycomb. This process is natural, and the quality of the emission significantly deteriorates. Burnout accelerates when filled with fuel of insufficient quality. Lead is added to gasoline to increase the octane number, which increases the load on the neutralizer, reducing its service life.
In certain cases, the breakdown is related to a faulty motor. If there are problems in the power supply system or the ignition is set incorrectly, the layer burns out much faster.
